14 A N C I E N T M O N U M E N T S . 



Still another, of small size and irregular outline, is situated on Beaver creek, a 

 branch of the Great Kenliawa, in Fayette county, Virginia, of which an account 

 was published by Mr, I. Craig of Pittsburgh, in the " American Pioneer," 

 vol. i. p. 199. 



PLATE V. 



" FORT HILL," HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. * 



This work occurs in the southern part of Highland county, Ohio; and is distant 

 about thirty miles from Chillicothe, and twelve from Hillsborough. It is universally 

 known as " Fort Hill," though no better entitled to the name than many others of 

 similar character. The defences occupy the summit of a hill, which is elevated 

 five hundred feet above the bed of Brush creek at its base, and eight hundred feel 

 above the Ohio river at Cincinnati. Unlike the hills around it, this one stands 

 detached and isolated, and forms a conspicuous object from every approach. Its 

 sides are steep and precipitous ; and, except at one or two points, if not absolutely 

 inaccessible, extremely difficult of ascent. The points most easy of access are at 

 the southern and northern angles, and may be reached on horseback. The top of 

 the hill is level, and has an area of not far from fifty acres, which is covered with 

 a heavy primitive forest of gigantic trees. One of these, a chestnut, standing on 

 the embankment near the point indicated by the letter e, measures twenty-otie feet 

 in circumference ; another, an oak, which also stood on the wall, at the point /, 

 though now fallen and much decayed, still measures iwe?ity-thrcc feet in circumfer- 

 ence. All around are scattered the trunks of immense trees, in every stage of 

 decay ; the entire forest presenting an appearance of the highest antiquity. 



Thus much for its natural features. Running along the edge of the hill is an 

 embankment of mingled earth and stone, interrupted at intervals by gateways, 

 [nterior to this is a ditch, from which the material composing the wall was taken. 

 The length of the wall is eight thousand two hundred and twenty-four feet, or 

 something over a mile and a half. In height, measuring from the bottom of the 

 ditch, it varies from six to ten feet, though at some places it rises to the height of 

 fifteen feet. Its average base is thirty-five or forty feet. It is thrown up somewhat 

 below the brow of the hill, the level of the terrace being generally about even with 

 the top of the wall ; but in some places it rises considerably above, as shown in 

 the sections. The outer slope of the wall is more abrupt than that of the hill ; the 

 earth and stones from the ditch, sliding down fifty or a hundred feet, have formed a 



* This work was first described, though not first surveyed, by Professor Locke, of Cincinnati, in ISHS 

 His description and plan — to the accuracy and fidelity of which every visitor can bear witness — were pub 

 lished in tlie " Second Annual Repcjrt of the Geological Survey of Ohio." 



